Dell Restore Disk Issue for Windows XP Professional

[Guest]

I have a Dell Laptop that I received from my former employer that has Windows
2000 Professional installed. It has a COA sticker with a Windows 2000 CD Key
Code.

I requested restore disks from Dell and they send me Windows XP
Professional. They further stated that they could not provide Windows 2000
Professional restore disks due to "end of life support".

The Windows XP Pro restore disks will not work with the CD key that I have
on the computer. Dell recommended ithat I contact MS for a new CD Key. MS
will not answer my question for free unless I have a valid Windows XP product
ID.

Can anyone tell me what my options are? I would prefer not to have to buy a
new version of Windows XP. Seems to me that Dell and MS have left me with few
options to explore.

Thanks

 

[Mike Hall \(MS-MVP\)]

Dell and MS are not liable in any way.. Dell would have supplied recovery
media at the time of initial purchase, or could have supplied recovery
material on demand.. Windows 2000 is hardly the flavour of the day, and
nobody in the Dell empire is about to go looking for an old W2K recovery
set.. have you thought to contact somebody in your place of former
employment?

What Dell have done is sent you an XP recovery set that will work with your
machine, which is pretty good considering that they are not obliged to do
so.. however, they know as well as anybody that XP requires a key.. maybe
they misunderstood and think that you have an XP COA sticker?..

MS will not help you purely on the basis that the recovery set is of the
Dell OEM type, the agreement with Dell being that Dell does ALL of the
support.. this includes the supply of a working key code..

So, the options left to you are to contact your former employer and see if
they have W2K installation CD's kicking around, ask Dell nicely if they can
supply you with an XP key code, or failing these options, go buy a retail or
generic OEM copy of XP from a store..

 

[Guest]

Did you ask Dell why they didn't provide you with a New COA/Product key?
They were willing to give you the CD(s).

 

[Guest]

You never had a Windows XP license to begin with.
You had a Windows 2000 license. Therefore, if you
wish to install Windows XP, you'll need to puchase
a regular copy of Windows XP.

 

[HeeroYuy]

You never had a Windows XP license to begin with.
You had a Windows 2000 license. Therefore, if you
wish to install Windows XP, you'll need to puchase
a regular copy of Windows XP.

Since it was Dell's screw up, I think he should fight with them until he
gets a free OEM license and product key from them. I also think he should
get Microsoft involved if Dell is stubborn about it.

 

[Guest]

Sorry, your thought process is wrong. The OP
never had a Windows XP license to begin with.
There are no free upgrades from Windows 2000
to Windows XP Professional.